Lunchtime Live

Should all Irish primary schools be Gaelscoils?  Estonia has announced a new law to ensure that over the next 10 years all primary schools that still teach primarily through Russian will have to switch to Estonian.   Could something like that work here? Would it help or hinder the language and our children’s education?  Andrea was joined by Chris McCaffrey, Irish Language...

From today, tolls on ten routes across the country will increase.  Most road users will the charge increase by 20c, with heavy good vehicles increasing by 30-50c  Andrea was joined by Shane O’Donoghue, Editor with completecar.ie  and others to discuss...

Do you make new year’s resolutions?  According to a new survey - 7 in 10 of under 29's think resolutions are outdated.  What do you think? Have you every stuck to them?  Siobhan Murray, psychotherapist, life-coach and author joined Andrea on the show today...

Coming back after January, Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!  Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. Laughter Yoga instructor Marie Angeline Lascaux joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

'If you would not eat it yourself, then don’t serve it up’   That is the message from health campaigner Jillian McNulty to hospital catering staff.   Jillian, who has cystic ­fibrosis, has been a patient multiple times and says that nine times out of ten the food comes cold or barely warm.  Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Jillian, Frances, Jason and JP McMahon - Che...

Prepare for Christmas with ease as our cheese expert is here to show us how to whip up the perfect board for the day!  Kevin Sheridan, owner of Sheridan's Cheese Mongers joined Andrea in studio today...

For some families, there’s extra celebrations this Christmas as they’ve welcomed babies in the past few months.   However it’s been a long road, as both babies were born through surrogacy.  Andrea was joined bu Kyle and Grainne to discuss their experiences...

Many people will be unwrapping, unwanted gifts on Monday whether they be socks or a gift you may already have.  Because gifting can bring about these problems it’s important to know our consumer rights at this time of year  Andrea was joined by Sinead Ryan, consumer columnist with the Irish Independent and presenter of The Home Show 

While some may consider 2023 the year of war and tragedies, there were many enjoyable things that also took place.  As we look back on 2023, here are a few stories that warmed our hearts, made us laugh and gave us some hope that things aren’t all so bad!  Andrea was joined by Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney to look back...

Tablescaping is the new Christmas trend this year. Andrea was joined by wedding planner, Lyndsey Moynagh to find out how to get the perfect Christmas table...

From Dirty Dens revelations in Eastenders to who killed Emmerdale’s Tom King – Christmas Day is when all the big drama happens in the soaps but how did they become such staple viewing?  Andrea was joined by Soap Writer Alan Flanagan, Soap Director Jay Brannigan and Broadcaster Gary Brennan to discuss...

As the Irish diaspora continues to travel far and wide, we hear how those who can’t make it back to Ireland for Christmas will be celebrating in their respective countries.    Andrea was joined by Irish all over the world on today's show...

61 year old Robert Kilmartin was in University Hospital Limerick recently, he joined Andrea today to discuss his experience?

Have we lost the run of ourselves with standing ovations at live performances?  When is the last time you went to a show that the audience didn’t stand up and cheer in appreciation at the final curtain?  Theatre experts in the UK have said that in the West End the display of appreciation once seen as a rare honour for a great performance has become a nightly phenomenon.  Has the sta...

Are you the type of person that sets their alarm for Stephen’s Day to get up and beat the queues for the post Christmas sales? Or do you think that shops should remain closed for longer over the Christmas period?  Andrea was joined by listeners and business owners to discuss...

Preparations have begun in households across the country for Monday’s Christmas dinner.   TV Chef and Owner of Ballyknocken House & Cookery School, Catherine Fulvio joined Andrea to let us know how to avoid all our Christmas kitchen faux pas...

For a third year in a row, the children of Chernobyl won’t be visiting Ireland over Christmas.   For the last two years Covid has stopped the visits. And this year it’s the war in Ukraine.  The visit is supposed to give the kids some rest and recuperation.   These children are all suffering from various health, mental and physical issues as a result of the Chernobyl nuclea...

Should the Gaeltacht be protected for Irish speakers?  New figures out today say that despite the fact that population of the Gaeltacht has increased since 2016, the number of daily Irish speakers has actually fallen.  Most Gaeltacht areas are in the West of Ireland, often in rural scenic areas. And because of that holiday homes and high property prices are a concern with locals.&nb...

Dublin City has received a lot of negative attention in the past few weeks and months – but Green Party Cllr Hazel Chu wants people to take back the city. Andrea caught up with her to walk around the capital...

An article by Laoise Neylon in the Dublin Inquirer focuses on Grace, a 16 year old, who is struggling with her mental health . Her family are desperately trying to get her the help that she needs.   Grace’s dad Mick and sister Emma joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss their current situation...

You may not be cooking the dinner this Christmas, but if you’re hosting festive drinks, you’ll need some tasty canopés to impress your guests.  Food Columnist with the Irish Examiner Colm O’Gorman joined Andrea with some tips...

Back in September, Andrea spoke to Ger and her story stopped many people in their tracks. Ger and her family had asked for respite care for her son Jack and when none was available, they had to leave him in an emergency respite facility - a situation she said is “breaking our hearts”.  Ger joined Andrea to on the show with an update...

Shoppers visiting Dublin City Centre this Christmas have been urged to watch out for clampers with already 1,200 more clamps issued this year by the start of December than in all of 2022  Is the clamping the best way to deal with bad parking?  Andrea Gilligan was joined by listeners to discuss...

Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Kildare GP, Dr Siobhan Chidley to answer listeners health queries and questions...

Dublin needs new bylaws to stop people concreting over their gardens for parking space, according to a leading environmentalist. The Irish Times reports some Dublin residents are converting their gardens into driveways, resulting in an overall reduction in the amount of green spaces in the city. Andrea was joined by Irish Architect and Environmentalist Duncan Stewart and other listeners to discuss...